Timing device



1,517,794 E. MINGE I TIMING DEVICE Filed March 11. 22

Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

UNITED STATES EINAR MINGE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TIMING DEVICE.

Application filed March 11, 1922. Serial No. 542,868.

and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Timing Devices, of which the following 1s a specification.

hIy invention relates to new and useful improvements in timing devices for internal combustion engines, and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be simple in structure and highly efficient in use.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a pacer interposedbetween the commutator or raceway of a timer and the movable contact element of the same, to protect the contact segments of the commutator from the detrimental action of the movable contact element of the timer. I have found by experiencethat the action of the movable contact element on the contact segments render the engaging surfaces of the contact segments uneven and consequently causes the engineto misiire. By the application of a pacer, embodying the invention, practically no lubrication is required and in view of this fact the motor can be readily started in cold weather.

A further object of the invention is the provision to assure a constant engagement of the pacer with respect to the contact segments of the commutator and only one contact segment at a time.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consist in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a timer with its covering removed showing a pacer,embodying the invention, associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detailed view of the same taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4t are elevational views of a pacer, embodying the invention, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detailed view of the same, taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

In the drawing, A indicates a timing device of any approved type comprising a timer shaft 10 carrying a contact member support 11 having a roller member 12 associated therewith and ordinarily arranged and adapted to ride on the surface of the commutator or raceway 1 1. The particular timer illustrated in the drawing and specified herein relates to a timer provided with a roller as its movable contact element, however, the timer may be provided with brush contact members as is often the case. The commutator or raceway 1. 1 usually comprises a fiber ring carrying contact segments 15 equally spaced apart with respect to each other and which are retained in position by terminal posts 16. The exposed surfaces of the contact segments 15 when subject to direct contact with respect to the roller 12 are in due time worn to an uneven state or condition and as herein stated'it is my object to protect the surfaces of the contact segments from the detrimental action of the roller 12. In accomplishing this ob ject I provide a pacer C which comprises a metallic ring 17 having opposite lateral flanges 18 and 19, which serve as guides and fixedly secured adjacent the side edges of the ring member 17, as shown in Fig. 5. The ring member as shown is of an outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the commutator so that only one portion of the outer surface of the saidring member will constantly be in contact with a portion of the surface of the commutator. The pacer G is adapted to be interposed between the roller 12 and the commutator .14, as shown in Fig. 1, Said roller 12 being in constant engagement with the inner surface of the ring member 17 and forces a portion of the outer surface of the ring member into contact with the adjacent portion of the surface of the commutator 1 1. IV hen the roller 12 is rotated through the medium of the timer shaft 10 an eccentric motion is imparted to the pacer C and the portion of the outer surface of the ring member 17, opposite the roller 12, is constantly in con tact with the adjacent surface of the commutator and all other portions of the outer surface of the ring member 17 are in spaced relation with respect to the adjacent portions of the surface of the commutator. It will be thus seen that the roller 12 at no time contacts directly with the contact segments 15 or any portion of the exposed surface of the commutator 14. Inasmuch as the roller 12 does not contact directly with the contact segments 15 no lubrication is necessary as in cases where the roller directly contacts with the contact segments, however, to better running conditions, if desired, the roller 12 may be lubricated without interfering with the contacting portions of the ring member and the contact segments.

As herein stated the ring member 17 is provided with lateral. flanges 18 and 19 which in this instance is the preferred form of construction, however, if desired the ring member can be applied to the timer without the flanges or with only one lateral flange in which case the width of the ring member will be somewhat greater than that shown in the drawing.

As has already been stated a further object of the invention is to assure a clean contact between the roller 12 and the contact segments 15 and to accomplish. this object I provide a number of parallel grooves 20 formed in the inner and outer surfaces of the ring member 17. The function of the grooves 20 is such that should small particles of dirt or a small quantity of lubrication work in between the engaging surfaces of the ring member and the commutator the dirt or lubrication will be caused to find a resting place in the grooves 20 which are of any size or shape. Thus by this provision of the grooves a clean operative contact is assured between the contacting surfaces of the contact elements.

By the use of my improved pacer an even running of an internal combustion engine is assured and the possibility of misfiring is eliminated and by accomplishing these features the invention as herein set forth will be of great commercial value.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I,

therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of the construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a timing device of a rotatable roller bearing contact element and a number of contact segments equally spaced apart; a ring member interposed between the roller of said rotatable contact element and the commutator or raceway of said timing device for making successive operative contact between said roller and said contact segments, there being a number of parallel grooves formed in the opposite sur faces of said ring member to assure a clean contact between the contacting surfaces of said commutator or raceway and said roller with respect to the surfaces of said ring member, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a timing device of a rotatable roller bearing contact element and a number of contact segments equally spaced apart; a ring member interposed between the roller of said rotatable contact element and the commutator or raceway of said timing device for making successive operative contact between said roller and said contact segments, there being a number of parallel grooves formed in said ring mem her to assure a clean contact between the contacting surfaces of said commutator or raceway and said roller with respect to the surfaces of said ring member; the outside diameter of said ring being of a smaller diameter than the inside diameter of the commutator or raceway whereby an eccentric motion is imparted to said ring member upon rotation of said rotatable contact element, substantially as described.

8. In combination with a timing device of a rotatable roller bearing contact element and a number of contact segments equally spaced apart; a ring member interposed between the roller of said rotatable contact element and the commutator or raceway of said timing device for making successive operative contact between said roller and said contact segments, there being a. number of parallel grooves formed in the opposite surfaces of said ring member to assure a clean contact between the contacting surfaces of said commutator or raceway and said roller with respect to the surfaces of said ring member; and flanges on the peripheral edges of said ring member adapted to work along the sides of the commutator guiding said ring member during operation, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a timing device having a rotatable contact element and a number of stationary contact elements; a pacer interposed between said rotatable contact element and the commutator or raceway of said timing device for making an operative contact between said stationary contact elements and said rotatable contact element; and flanges on the peripheral edges of said pacer adapted to work along the sides of the commutator guiding said'pacer during operation.

5. A spacer for ignition timers including a ring member having circumferentially extending grooves formed in its opposite cylindrical sides and provided with flanges extending laterally from the sides adjacent 15 the peripheral edges of the member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EINAR MINGE. Witnesses:

FREDA C. ArrLEToN, JOSHUA R. H. POTTS. 

